Oregon Demolition Contractor Insurance
General liability without hidden demolition exclusions, pollution liability, workers' comp, equipment and CCB bonds for Oregon demolition contractors. Same-day certificates of insurance. Call our Oregon line: (971) 430-4717.
What Insurance Does an Oregon Demolition Contractor Need?
Demolition is construction work in Oregon, so you need a Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license with a bond and liability insurance on file. Your minimums depend on your endorsement: Residential Specialty needs $300,000 per occurrence in liability and a $20,000 bond; Residential General $500,000 and a $25,000 bond; Residential Limited $100,000 and a $15,000 bond; Commercial Specialty Level 2 $500,000 and a $25,000 bond; Commercial Specialty Level 1 $1,000,000 aggregate and a $55,000 bond. Before you demolish any commercial building, or any home built before January 1, 2004, Oregon DEQ requires an asbestos survey by an accredited inspector, kept on site during the work. In Portland, houses and duplexes built in 1940 or earlier must be taken apart by a City-certified deconstruction contractor instead of mechanically demolished.
Many contractor policies exclude demolition outright, limit you to interior work, or exclude the asbestos, lead and dust that come with tearing down older buildings, and demolition contractors often find out only after a claim. The Hard Hat Insurance team, the construction division of Bearstar Insurance Services, places Oregon demolition contractors with carriers that write wrecking work, files your insurance and bond with the CCB, and reads the exclusions before you sign. Whether you take down houses for infill builders in Portland, clear commercial sites in Salem and Eugene, or do selective interior demolition in Bend and Medford, we match your coverage to your endorsement, your equipment and your contracts.
Commercial General Liability
Demolition General Liability
General liability pays when your work damages someone else's property or injures someone who isn't your employee. For demolition contractors, the most common claims are damage to neighboring buildings, fences and vehicles from falling debris or vibration; broken water, gas and sewer lines; dust on adjacent property; and passers-by hurt near the site. That's why you need a policy that covers structural demolition, not just interior or incidental demo work.
Limits matched to your CCB endorsement.
Additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording when your GC requires it.
Surety Bonds
Oregon CCB License Bond
Every Oregon contractor must keep a surety bond on file with the CCB, and the amount depends on your endorsement. We can often issue CCB bonds the same day, with a quick quote and no long application.
Bad credit programs available.
Bonds for residential and commercial endorsements.
Oregon rates demolition by what the structure is made of: 5403 (Carpentry) for wood buildings, 5213 (Concrete Construction) for concrete, 5057 (Iron or Steel Erection) for steel, and 5022 (Masonry) for masonry. A crew that takes down a wood house one week and a block building the next reports payroll in different codes, so keep payroll records by job. Office staff (8810) and outside sales or estimators (8742) should be reported separately. We compare SAIF with private carriers that write demolition. Oregon's average pure premium rises about 2.1% in 2027, so it's a good year to review your codes and experience mod.
Pay-as-you-go options available (helps cash flow).
Waivers of subrogation for commercial contracts.
Workers' Compensation
What We Cover
Commercial Auto
Work Truck & Fleet
Dump trucks, roll-off trucks, lowboys and the trailers that move your machines need commercial auto. A personal policy won't cover a truck used for hauling debris, and a loaded trailer changes how the vehicle is rated. Commercial auto covers your trucks, trailers and the drivers you hire, with higher limits when a contract calls for them.
Builders Risk
Builders Risk (Course of Construction)
Protect your project from fire, wind, water damage and theft of materials, all common on Oregon job sites. We cover the structure from the ground up until the job is signed off.
Covers materials on-site and in transit.
Required by most lenders for new construction and remodels.
Contractor's Equipment (Inland Marine): Covers your excavators, skid steers, hydraulic breakers, shears, grapples and crushers against theft, vandalism, fire and accidental damage, on site, in the yard or in transit.
Contractor's Pollution Liability: Covers claims from asbestos, lead, silica and dust released by your work, which standard GL excludes. Often required by developers and public agencies on demolition contracts.
Excess Liability (Umbrella): Developer, GC and public demolition contracts often require $2M to $5M in total liability.
And More
Local Service Area
Serving all of Oregon. We insure demolition contractors statewide.
Portland & the Valley: Portland, Salem, Eugene.
Central & Southern: Bend, Medford, Grants Pass.
Oregon line: (971) 430-4717
Jesus Galvan, licensed insurance broker, Oregon license #20617222. Se habla español.
Need a COI Today?
Most developers, GCs and public agencies ask demolition contractors for $1M/$2M GL with no demolition exclusion, contractors pollution liability, additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary/non-contributory wording, an umbrella on commercial jobs, and proof of workers' comp. Send us the contract's requirements and we'll confirm your policy meets them before you sign.
5 Demolition Exclusions That Can Leave You Uninsured
1. Demolition exclusion or interior-only limit
Excludes structural demolition entirely, or covers only interior tear-out. A full teardown can be left uncovered.
2. Height or story limit
Excludes buildings over a set height or number of stories, which matters on commercial and multi-family jobs.
3. XCU exclusion (explosion, collapse, underground)
Excludes damage from collapse, explosions or underground work. Collapse of a neighboring structure is one of the biggest demolition claims.
4. Pollution, asbestos, lead and silica exclusions
Excludes claims from dust, fibers and released materials. Without contractor's pollution coverage, those claims may be yours to pay.
5. Earth movement and adjacent property exclusion
Excludes settlement, subsidence or vibration damage to nearby buildings, foundations and utilities. We review these provisions before you sign and tell you plainly what's covered and what it would cost to fix.
Oregon Demolition Contractor Insurance FAQ
Do I need a CCB license to do demolition in Oregon?
Yes. Demolition is construction work, so you need a Construction Contractors Board license with a surety bond and liability insurance on file before you bid, advertise or work.
Do I need an asbestos survey before demolishing a building in Oregon?
Usually. Oregon DEQ requires a survey by an accredited inspector before demolishing any commercial building and any residential building built before January 1, 2004, and the survey must be kept on site during the work.
What is the workers' comp class code for demolition in Oregon?
Oregon rates demolition by the type of structure: 5403 for wood buildings, 5213 for concrete, 5057 for steel and 5022 for masonry. Keep payroll records by job so each hour is reported in the right code.
Does general liability cover asbestos or dust claims from demolition?
Usually not. Most general liability policies exclude pollution, and many exclude asbestos, lead and silica. Contractors pollution liability is the policy that covers those claims.
Can I get insurance if I've had claims or I'm a new business?
Usually, yes. We work with specialty carriers that write new demolition contractors and companies with prior claims, though pricing and terms vary.
Contact
Call
info@hardhatinsurance.net
Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker in CA, NV, TX, AZ, OR, CO, and WA.
License numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.
© 2025. All rights reserved.